Endotoxin levels and clinico-pathological and clinical findings of 98 mastitic Holstein cows and 19 clinically normal cows were examined. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from 33 cows, Gram-positive bacteria from 31, and fungi from 6. No microorganisms were isolated from 28 cows. In cows with Gram-negative bacteria, the milk endotoxin level was 1, 156.1±88.7pg/ml. In cows with Gram-positive bacteria, it was 8.3±13.7 pg/ml, and in the fungus cows, it was 19.8±9.1pg/ml. The milk endotoxin level in clinically normal cows was 5.9±2.8pg/ml. Milk endotoxin levels in animals with Gram-negative bacteria were significantly higher than those in animals with Gram-positive bacteria or fungi and normal animals. Milk endotoxin levels, hypodynamic rate, transparent-milk rate, PCV, Crea, BUN, AST, ALP, and LDH were all significantly higher in cases of Gramnegative bacteria. Neutrophillic rate and blood-platelet numbers showed lower levels in cases of Gram-negative bacteria than in cases of Gram-positive bacteria. Levels of milk endotoxin, hypodynamic rate, abnormalfeces rate, PCV, BUN, AST, LDH, and CK were all higher in cases with poor prognoses than in animals that recovered. These results indicate that the pathema of mastitic cows varies according to the infecting bacterium and that milk endotoxin levels account for differences in prognosis.

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RIA and transrectal Doppler ultrasonography were used to measure plasma steroid hormones and uterine artery blood flow in order to clarify the effects of moxibustion treatment on cycling cows (n=7). Results showed an extended increase of progesterone and of the corpus-luteum diameter after treatment during the functional corpus-luteal period. A temporal increase of PGFM, the metabolites of prostaglandin F_2α, was observed within 60 minutes after treatment during the functional corpus-luteal period. Uterine blood flow increased significantly (25.1%) 30 minutes after treatment. These results suggest that moxibustion exerts endocrinological and hemodynamic effects on cow reproductive tracts.

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In February 1999, 5 of 11 fattening pigs in a litter on a farm in Gifu Prefecture demonstrated depression, coughing, and respiratory distress when 55 days old. Later the remaining 6 demonstrated the same symptoms. Five of the pigs died sporadically between the ages of 60 and 70 days. Necropsies showed typical pleuropneumonia in the thoracic cavity. Histopathological examination revealed severe fibrino-purulent pneumonia in 5 pigs.Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeserotype 1 was isolated in pure culture from the lungs of all the animals. Sera of the surviving 6 pigs were collected, and antibody responses againstA. pleuropneumoniae serotype1 isolated from the lungs of the dead pigs were examined by means of immuno-histochemical staining (IS) and the complement fixation (CF) test. IS-IgG antibodies were detected in 4 of 6 pig sera 4 days after the onset of the disease and in all sera 8 days after the onset. CF titers, on the other hand, were detected in 3 of 6 pig sera 4 days after the onset of the disease and in 4 of 6 pig sera 8 days after the onset. As a result of this study, we concluded that the IS test is more sensitive than the CF test and is a useful tool for the diagnosis of the incipient stage ofA. pleuropneumoniaeinfection.

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Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed on two Holstein dairy heifers with bacterial endocarditis to investigate changes in the echocardiographic features of vegetations and to observe alterations in clinical signs. At first examination, all vegetations revealed already hyper-echoic masses. Thereafter, vegetation echogenicity tended to increase gradually. In addition, vegetative lesions demonstrated acoustic shadows that appeared more intense during observations. In one vegetation, lesion smoothing and contraction were observed. These findings showed that vegetative lesions were in the organizing process at the beginning of observation and that mineralization progressed gradually as organization advanced. Clinical and laboratory findings failed to recognize this as a conspicuous abnormality, thus supporting our interpretation and confirming pathological findings. Apparently, the vegetation echocardiographic features observed in this study were consistent with the resolution of the infection.

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Necropsy performed on a suddenly deceased head of beef cattle (19 months old) revealed multiple, walnutsized, clearly outlined, yellowish nodules in the liver with marked systemic icterus. Histopathology showed the nodules to consist of coagulative necrosis containing numerous gram-negative, filamentous bacteria and peripheral inflammatory cells.Fusobacterium necrophorumwas isolated from the liver in a pure culture, and 2.8×10⁸CFU per gram ofClostridiurn perfringenswas isolated from the jejunal contents. On the basis of these findings, the disease was diagnosed as hepatic necrobacillosis, and the nodular lesions of which were considered to be the initial stage of hepatic abscesses. In the present case, icterus and the proliferation ofC. perfringensin the small intestine may relate to the sudden death.

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Herniorrhaphy was used to treat a newborn Japanese Black calf with prolonged umbilical bleeding. Bloodchemistry analysis revealed large, granular, eosinophilic leukocytes and decreased platelet collagen-aggregation functions. Thromboelastography showed clotting time to be moderately prolonged in comparison with results for other cattle. Increased ocular-fundic red reflex was observed. Allele-specific PCR showed the sire and dam of the calf to be carriers of the Chediak-Higashi syndrome. The bleeding disorder was therefore diagnosed as Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

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From among 2, 260 cutaneous specimens examined during the period between 1997 and 1999, histopathological investigations found intractable canine lipogranuloma lesions in 12 cases (0.5%; ages from 3 months to 8 years). Characteristically, the granulomas consisted of lipid-laden macrophages accumulated around lipid vacuoles. They were classified into 3 types: Type I is well demarcated by connective tissue; type II is a larger granuloma with a poorly defined margin; Type III has the histopathological traits of both types I and II and is associated with metastases of granulomas to the lymph nodes and lungs. These findings suggest the involvement of either auto-immunity to lipid-bound cutaneous tissues or allergic response to lipid-soluble substances in the pathogenesis of canine cutaneous lipogranuloma.

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In one dog and three cats malunion of pelvic fractures had resulted in secondary obstipation and megacolon. Triple pelvic osteotomy was performed to widen the pelvic canal by fixing the free pelvic acetablum segment. In all four cases, obstipation and megacolon improved clinically and radiographically.

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A 5-year-old male Shih-tzu dog with a severe neurological disorder was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital at Yamaguchi University. The dog was stuporous and unable to stand. Plain radiography revealed skull fracture. MRI evaluation of the head showed the brain to be considerably compressed by the depressed skull fracture. Decompressive surgery was performed 6 hours after admission; and approximately 55 hours after the trauma, the fragment was successfully removed. Supportive medical treatment with corticosteroid and antibiotics was afforded before and after surgery. From the seventh day after surgery, the dog had recovered sufficiently to stand and walk unaided. Although blindness resulted from the head injury, for 22 months the dog has been in good physical condition otherwise.

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A 90-day-old American Cocker Spaniel with a 2-day history of anorexia and depression manifested weakness and muscular atrophy in both hind limbs. During the first week after referral to this hospital, systemic progressive neuromuscular disease resulted in reduction of the anal reflex, tetraplegia, dysphagia, and death. Histopathological examination confirmed non-suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis, myositis, and protozoal infection in various organs. Immunohistochemistry showed the protozoal organisms to be intensely positive for the antibody against Neospora caninum. On the basis of these findings, the case was diagnosed as neosporosis.

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Between February 1998 and January 2000, to investigate original sources of environment agents pathogenic in human beings, we isolated and detected microorganisms from 75 animal-fecal samples and 26 river-water samples from the vicinity of Mount Zao in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. From the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus), we isolated five serogroups of Verotoxin-producingEscherichia coli (VTEC). Although one isolate (O91: H-) belonged to a serogroup simultaneously discovered in a human carrier, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed it to have a different restriction fragment pattern. Thus no direct relation between VTEC O91: H-in the serow and in human beings was suggested. The indirect immuno-fluorescence method detected Giardia cysts in 13 Japanese serows and 1 dog for a rate of between 20 and 5, 494 per gram. Down the river from Mount Zao, on the other hand, we discovered from 3 to 63 Giardia/15-18 in 2 samples. We suspect that these may result from contamination of the river by human and agricultural wastes since we detected no Giardia in 15 water samples collected at 3 points in the river in the mountainous area where the serows live. Although we detected VTEC andGiardiain wild serows, we found no proof that microorganisms in the environment cause infectious diseases in human beings. Establishing a relation between pathogenic microorganisms in humans and wild animals will require further, long-range study.

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